Beer: Ratings & Reviews

Reviews by cerveza5150:

Served poured from a 22oz bomber into a small sampling glass, a bit on the cold side, I'd say...40 degrees or so.

Head is razor thin and diminishes somewhat on pouring. CO2 is present, but not over active. The appearance isn't that impressive, to be honest.

The smell is pretty good, with hops present, as well as some sweet, caramel malts.

The taste is really, really, good! I held off from giving the taste a 5, due to the lack of a CO2 backbone. Lacing is present down the sides of the glass.

I'm thinking the lack of CO2 is probably due to the age of this bottle. It was going on 6 months, so I think it's seen better days! The taste was really good, so I'm looking forward to sampling a fresher offering from this brewery.

More User Reviews:

Somewhat cloudy copper orange. The bartendress suggested the beer was unfiltered. Very nice grass and citrus nose. Flavor hits with hops. Bitterness is subdued and the malt is present though slightly drying at the end. Could drink a lot of this. Short review for a very good beer.

A pleasant surprise in an un-hyped, plain bottle. Pours orangy-gold with a frothy white head. Clean pine hop aroma, with some citrus, a la the west coast style. Great taste of grapefruit and oranges. Bit of bread in the back a is a slight resiny tang. Dry finish. Nice.

Copper colored liquid, looks like it has a little more viscosity, might be in for a caramel malt bomb, but being that this is Rubicon, who has shown the ability to deliver good west coast hoppy beers, I dunno. Smell was a little subdued, pithy notes of citrus can be picked up, but they aren't as sharp as they should be.

Usual suspects in the taste, bitterness, caramel, mild sweetness. Hops just aren't out in the forefront like I hoped for. No bottle date, who knows how old this is, especially when purchased at a Bevmo. Really came off similar to most run of the mill to decent ipa's out there. Does Rubicon just make extra special batches for Bistro's hop events, or did I just get a less than desireable aged ipa bottle?

What should really be said here? Rubicon's IPA is a very straightforward amber-colored American style IPA. It has an aroma of citrusy Cascade hops combined with softly sweet biscuity and caramelish malts. The flavor is basically the same with some more pine-like hop character (it's a bit floral as well). It's solidly bittered but balanced. If anything, it could be a bit more refined (the bitterness does tend to stick at the back of the throat), but as it is, it's still far more in-check than many of the examples on the market today. A straightforward, balanced, and drinkable American IPA.

Right off the bat this beer reminds me of Ballast Point Big Eye IPA in almost every regard. The appearance is similar- a golden-amber-orange color. The smell is similar- floral yet distinctively sweet malt. The taste is similar, has a big malt backbone that I don't normally see in IPA's, except by East Coast brewers who don't dry their IPA's out as much as most West Coast brewers. It delivers a nice floral hop flavor with a moderate resiny bitterness... went well with my chili and spicy nachos but overall the malt is just a bit too much here for me to really love it.

A golden orange into a large wine glass I pour ye, with a half inch of off white head. Fair retention and lacing. Looks rather rich.

Orangey, buttery, sweet, bit skunky in fact on the nose. No hops in the house, how is this an IPA? This beer reminds me of Union Jack (in the bottle) but isn't as good. Is it possible the beer was just very old and the hops had broken down? Maybe, but I didn't get that impression. There were some cryptic markings but nothing I could interpret as for freshness.

Back to the smell. A rich sugary citrus oil odor emanates, not my favorite though apparently there are many fans. Similar to some Firestone offerings in that regard.

Taste follows with a buttery texture, rich and syrupy. Bitterness is cloaked on the finish as are hops on the nose by the sweetness.

Feel and Drink, yeah, OK.

This beer is like a dumb blonde to me. She's pretty and all but the reality comes hard and it comes fast. If you like the Cascade/Crystal combo with a rich buttery diacetyl flavor then I would consider this an average Pale Ale. Yet this is a strange one in the IPA world.

Color is crystal clear with a bright golden hue. Head is nice and frothy, clings and clumps all over the glass. Aromas are of pine needles, hop resin, and cat pee. (kinda looks like cat pee) Taste is bursting with hoppy goodness. Flavors of orange, lemon, pine, grass, and herbs. Finish is lasting with a dry tangy hop-pucker. Great for the style, classic Cali IPA.

A - Came with a solid one finger creamy head in a perspiring pint glass. A golden color with good clarity. A thick, creamy off white head. Good lacing.

S - Very good fresh hop aroma. Citrus and a touch of pine to is. Slight sweet malt to round it out.

T - Very good hoppy flavor to this IPA. Lots of Grapefruit. Good sweet malt backbone. Finish is bitter and dry. Awesome IPA.

M - Good Medium Body, right amount of carbonation.

D - This is a very well rounded IPA. The best cure in a pitcher to a long week. The bottled version is a touch less impressive then on tap. So if your in the Sac area it is best to stop by the Brewery.